Clydesdale gear on offer in Hunter clearing sale

An 1890s City of Sydney lorry which has been fully restored will be among a collection of heavy horse gear up for grabs in a spectacular clearing sale in the Hunter Valley. This lorry features 18-carat gold paint.

A pair of show harnesses that will be in Stuart and Kate Garland's clearing sale at Glenn William on August 26. The sale will also feature an array of farm machinery.

A RARE collection of heavy horse gear, including lorries, single and double show harness, stallion rollers, show halters and collars, will be up for grabs in what’s expected to be the most spectacular clearing sale the Hunter Valley has ever seen.

Stuart and Kate Garland, who have bred and shown their Yattarna Park Clydesdales for many years, will offer for unreserved sale an outstanding line up of tractors, machinery and heavy horse gear following the recent sale of their 68-hectare Glen William property.

Mr Garland has been involved with heavy horses for about 16 years and was vice president of the NSW Commonwealth Clydesdale society for many years.

“I built a house near Tocal many years ago and wanted something in the paddock so I bought a Clydesdale, then realised they being herd animals I had to buy a second one, so I kept rolling on and got bitten by the heavy horse bug,” he said.

“Then I started showing and breeding. I got them working and going and Kate has always done all the final show preparation. I intend to stay involved with the heavy horses as a judge but I just don't have time to be competing and to give the horses the attention they need.”

The Garlands have success at the Sydney Royal Easter Show and EKKA, as well as at shows throughout the Hunter and country NSW. After becoming a grandfather, as well as sustaining an injury earlier this year, Mr Garland decided to give up the hobby for good, selling his heavy horses earlier this year.

Among the wagons is a circa 1890s red and blue City of Sydney lorry, designed for one horse to cart bulky goods for short distances around the city.

“I’d been looking for one of those since the day I started with the Clydesdales and I found that one at Braidwood about two years ago then had it fully restored,” Mr Garland said.

“It’s all hand-painted, lined and scrolled by a retired signwriter, with all the letters in 18-carat gold leaf.”

He also has a 1915 2.5-tonne wagon with drop sides and a high seat designed for two or four heavy horses as a general purpose lorry for carting for heavy loads. It was made in Adelaide and purchased from Warragul in Victoria a few years ago.

"It’s also been fully repainted and hasn't been used since it was restored. They’re very hard to find – to find wagons that are restored but not used is almost impossible. With every horse-drawn carriage you buy, you spend a lot of money to bring it up to the right standard, and these could win at any royal show in Australia.”

Also in immaculate condition are royal show quality harnesses, including a patent leather single set and pairs harness made by Mark Porter at Currawarna, near Wagga Wagga.

“The harness is fully handmade and took approximately 12 months for each set to be completed,” Mr Garland said.

The August 26 clearing sale, run through by Bowe and Lidbury, Maitland, will also feature machinery from Mr Garland’s contracting business, including three tractors, hay making equipment, tillage implements, fertiliser spreaders, mulchers and slashers.